Evidence to Action: Using Data and Research to Drive Learning in EdTech Products

Note: This courses are part of a 3-course series and the third course will launch in Spring 2026. Complete all three courses to earn a certificate.

From Data to Impact: Using Data to Support Learning

Many educators and EdTech innovators design excellent learning experiences with the learner in mind. Yet, too often, data is viewed mainly as a reporting tool for funders or external requirements. This introductory course reframes that perspective. It helps you see data as a learner-centered tool for reflection, iteration, and continuous improvement.

This course introduces the essential ideas, language, and practices that will prepare you to work confidently with evidence in your own context. You’ll learn how to interpret the signals already available in your programs, organize them through clear frameworks, and use simple, sustainable tools to improve the learning experience. Step by step, the course demystifies data and shows how small, evidence-informed adjustments can lead to meaningful gains in engagement, confidence, and outcomes.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Recognize how data and evidence can inform better learning design and decisions.
• Identify, organize, and evaluate learner data to ensure it is useful, valid, and ethical.
• Interpret learner signals and use simple methods to generate actionable insights.
• Apply data to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate meaningful impact.

Whether you’re a teacher, program manager, or EdTech designer, this course offers a practical and accessible introduction to using data for learning improvement giving you the foundation to move from collecting data to creating real impact.

Introduction to Research for EdTech Innovators

Many educators, designers, and EdTech innovators already ask questions, observe learners, and make small adjustments based on what they see. Yet research is often treated as something formal, academic, or reserved for external evaluators. This introductory course reframes that perspective. It helps you see research as a practical, learner-centered tool for reflection, iteration, and stronger decision-making.

This course introduces what research is, why it matters, and how to apply it directly to your product, program, or classroom challenges, which will help you work confidently with evidence in your own context. You’ll learn how to turn curiosity into focused questions, gather and analyze information systematically, and organize what you discover into meaningful insights. Along the way, you’ll learn how simple, evidence-informed inquiry can strengthen your design choices, deepen your understanding of users, and support better learning outcomes.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define research in plain terms and explain its practical value in EdTech beyond academic settings.
• Frame strong, focused research questions that are clear, focused, and meaningful for your EdTech work
• Select and apply basic data collection and analysis methods suitable for different research questions and contexts.
• Communicate and apply research findings through clear, actionable stories that inform design, programs, and decision-making.